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Bill· HRH.R. 2973 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
Sportfishing and Boating Improvement Act of 1997 - Amends the Act popularly known as the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act to increase: (1) the regional average that States must allocate from specified appropriations for certain recreational boating purposes; and (2) the limit on State funding for aquatic resource education, outreach, and communications (currently, for aquatic resource education and outreach) programs. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop and implement a national plan for outreach and communications. Authorizes grants and contracts to carry out the plan. Requires States to develop an outreach and communications plan. (Sec. 4) Requires that, of the balance remaining after the annual initial distribution of funds from appropriations to carry out the Act, certain amounts be used for programs and projects under specified provisions of: (1) Federal law relating to State recreational boating safety programs; (2) the Clean Vessel Act of 1992; and (3) this Act. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to adopt a national framework for a public boat access needs assessment. Requires States to conduct the assessments unless the Secretary certifies that a State is implementing a plan that ensures adequate access. Allows States to fund the assessments from amounts dedicated to access to recreational waters under existing provisions. Mandates matching grants to States for up to 75 percent of the cost of facilities for transient nontrailerable recreational vessels. (Sec. 6) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the date on which the tax rate on diesel fuel and nonaviation gasoline decreases and the date until which amounts attributable to motorboat fuel taxes must be transferred from the Highway Trust Fund to the Boat Safety Account in the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund. Decreases the aggregate limit on transfers during any fiscal year and removes the limit on the amount in the Account. Extends the date until which amounts attributable to small-engine fuel taxes must be transferred from the Highway Trust Fund into the Sport Fish Restoration Account in the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund and the date until which Boat Safety Account funds are available for expenditures to carry out recreational boat safety provisions.
Bill· HRH.R. 2974 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to carry out six specified military construction projects (including design costs) for the 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Youngstown, Ohio, in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years beginning after 1998.
Bill· HRH.R. 2929 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
Individual Social Security Retirement Accounts Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce social security taxes for eligible individuals, whether employed by others or self-employed, who elect to participate in the Individual Retirement Program (IRP) created under a new part B of title II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) (part B eligible individual). Reduces the employers' tax for employers of such individuals. Leaves the respective tax rates at their current levels with respect to individuals who remain covered under the current OASDI program (redesignated as part A of SSA title II). (Sec. 3) Amends SSA title II to require, under new part B, that employers have in effect a social security payroll deduction plan for eligible employees who elect to enroll under it. Requires the plan to provide for employers to deduct five percent of the employee's wages, together with an employer contribution also equal to five percent of the employee's wages, for transfer to the employee's individual social security retirement (ISSR) account. Requires self-employed individuals to contribute ten percent of their income to such accounts. Makes employees between ages 18 and 61 who are not entitled to OASDI disability benefits eligible to elect to enroll under new part B. Entitles eligible individuals who attain age 62 to a supplemental minimum benefit payment to their ISSR accounts. Requires a trustee of an ISSR account to purchase, from amounts available in the account, disability insurance and preretirement survivor benefits for each account holder. Sets forth penalties for failure to establish and maintain a social security payroll deduction plan. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require amounts deducted from employee wages to be shown on their wage receipts. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to exempt social security payroll deduction plans from certain requirements for employee benefit plans. (Sec. 4) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from an individual's gross income: (1) any amount paid to an ISSR account as the employer's contribution; or (2) half of the amount paid to such an account of a self-employed individual. Exempts such accounts from taxation (except the excise tax on certain prohibited transactions). Provides for taxation of account distributions to the extent they are includible in gross income like social security benefits. Imposes an excise tax on excess contributions to an account. (Sec. 5) Amends SSA title II to declares that eligible individuals who have elected to establish ISSR accounts shall be deemed not entitled to OASDI benefits. (Sec. 6) Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to certify to the Secretary of the Treasury whether an eligible individual was credited with wages and self-employment income under SSA title II part A immediately before the first calendar year for which the individual may distribute amounts from an ISSR account. Provides that, immediately upon receipt of such certification, the Secretary shall issue a contribution recognition bond to the trustee of the ISSR account held by such individual. Defines a contribution recognition bond as consisting of an obligation of the United States to make monthly payments into an ISSR account in an amount equal to the individual's primary insurance amount. (Sec. 7) Provides for a phased-in increase in the social security retirement age, eventually to age 70 with respect to an individual who attains early retirement age after December 31, 2028. (Sec. 8) Amends SSA title II to provide for the application of adjusted percentages to average indexed monthly earnings in determining primary insurance amounts. (Sec. 9) Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide for off-budget treatment for specified social security reforms. (Sec. 10) Directs the Office of Personnel Management to study and report to the President and the Congress on the most appropriate and feasible means of providing for the application of this Act with respect to Federal civilian and military personnel.
Bill· HRH.R. 2969 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
Charitable Giving Partnership Act - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to authorize the use of specified community development block grant amounts provided for non-metropolitan or non-urban areas to supplant State revenues lost under a State income tax credit for contributions to certain organizations providing assistance to low-income or homeless persons.
Bill· HRH.R. 2956 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) to revise the Federal and congressional budget processes by establishing a two-year budgeting and appropriations cycle and timetable. Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year. Sets forth a special timetable for any first session that begins in any year immediately following a leap year and during which the term of a President begins (except one who starts a second successive term). Devotes the first session of any Congress to the budget resolution and to appropriations decisions, retaining current deadlines in most cases. Changes certain deadlines to conform to the biennial scheme. Devotes each second session to authorization activity, subject to specified deadlines. (Sec. 3) Revises provisions relating to the reconciliation process. (Sec. 4) Sets forth revised pay-as-you-go provisions for the Senate. (Sec. 5) Conforms provisions governing the President's budget to the biennial framework. (Sec. 6) Requires all Acts making regular appropriations for the support of the Government to be enacted for a biennium and to specify the amount of appropriations provided for each fiscal year in that period. (Sec. 7) Amends CBA to provide that it shall not be in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider: (1) any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that authorizes appropriations for a period of less than two fiscal years, unless the program, project, or activity for which the appropriations are authorized will require no further appropriations and will be completed or terminated after the appropriations have been expended; and (2) in any odd-numbered year, any authorization or revenue bill or joint resolution until Congress completes action on the biennial budget resolution, all regular biennial appropriations bills, and all reconciliation bills. Provides that, in the Senate, such point of order shall not apply to: (1) any measure that is privileged for consideration pursuant to a rule or statute; (2) any matter considered in Executive Session; or (3) an appropriations measure or reconciliation bill. (Sec. 8) Changes to a biennial basis specified requirements for certain Government strategic and performance plans, performance reports in budget submissions, and program performance reports. Requires congressional committee reviews of such plans and reports. (Sec. 9) Provides that it shall not be in order in the House or the Senate in any odd-numbered year to consider any regular bill providing new budget authority or a limitation on obligations under the jurisdiction of any Appropriations subcommittee for only the first fiscal year of a biennium unless the program, project, or activity for which such authority or limitation is provided will require no additional authority beyond one year and will be completed or terminated after the amount provided has been expended. (Sec. 10) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to report to the Budget Committees on the impact and feasibility of changing the definition of a fiscal year and the budget process based on that definition to a two-year fiscal period with a two-year budget process based on the two-year period.
Bill· HRH.R. 2933 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
Working Americans Gainful Employment (WAGE) Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a reduction in social security employment taxes to the extent there is a Federal budget surplus.
Bill· HRH.R. 2966 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
Working Americans Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance employee and self-employment taxes.
Bill· HRH.R. 2971 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a 20 percent tax on the taxable earned income of every individual. Bases such amount on the standard, charitable gifts, and residence interest deductions. (Replaces current income tax procedures for individuals.) Increases the basic standard deduction and includes an additional standard deduction (limited to dependents only), with inflation adjustments. Limits the deduction for interest paid on a home mortgage to the amount of acquisition indebtedness, with limitations. Replaces the current tax on corporations with a tax on every person engaged in a business activity equal to 20 percent of the business taxable income of such person. Makes the person engaged in the business activity liable for the tax.
Bill· HRH.R. 2928 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny tax-exempt status to any social club which has been found, pursuant to a determination by a court or government agency, to have a pattern or practice of prohibited discrimination.
Bill· HRH.R. 2951 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program Incentive Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income scholarship amounts received for certain teaching, research, or other services by an individual under the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program.
Bill· SS. 1454 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 1997 - Amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) to make available from the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) for January 1 through January 8, 1998: (1) $506 million to carry out the surface transportation program, the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program, and highway safety and commercial motor vehicle safety programs; and (2) $14 million for State apportionments for Federal-aid highway programs. Directs the Secretary to: (1) apportion funds under (1) above in an amount sufficient to increase any State's unobligated balance, as of October 1, 1997, of such apportionments that was less than 50 percent of the State's total FY 1997 obligation authority for funds apportioned for the Federal-aid highway program to 50 percent of such authority; and (2) allocate funds under (2) above to each State in the ratio that the amount allocated to the State for FY 1997 bears to the amounts allocated to all States for FY 1997. Directs the Secretary to reduce a State's surface transportation program apportionment that would be authorized by an Act enacted after this Act by the amount of any authorization of contract authority provided to the State under this Act. Directs the Secretary, subject to a specified limit on aggregate allocations, to allocate to each State an amount of obligation authority that is: (1) equal to the greater of the State's unobligated balance of Federal-aid highway apportionments or 50 percent of the State's total FY 1997 obligation authority for Federal-aid highway funds; but (2) not greater than 75 percent of such State's FY 1997 obligation authority. Prohibits a State from obligating any funds for any Federal-aid highway program project after May 1, 1998, until the earlier of the enactment of a multiyear law reauthorizing the program or July 1, 1998. Prohibits any contract authority made available to the States before July 1, 1998, from being obligated after such date until such a law is enacted. Provides that the baseline prepared by the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and Budget for FY 1998 through 2003 for mandatory contract authority and mandatory outlays for Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs shall be the baseline included in the concurrent resolution on the budget for FY 1998. (Sec. 3) Authorizes a State, for FY 1998, to transfer any unobligated funds made available to it for specified Federal-aid highway program apportionments, the surface transportation program, the highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program, or specified highway and commercial motor vehicle safety programs to any other such program. Directs the Secretary, after enactment of a law authorizing the Federal-aid highway program, to restore transferred funds for any project not eligible for the funds but for this section to the program category from which the funds were transferred. Authorizes the Secretary to establish procedures under which transferred funds from a program category for which funds are not authorized may be restored to the Federal-aid highway program. (Sec. 4) Grants the Secretary specified borrowing authority if necessary to pay administrative and research expenses of the Federal-aid highway program for FY 1998, subject to specified limitations. Makes specified funds available from the HTF for contract authority for such expenses. Amends ISTEA to extend the authorization of appropriations through March 31, 1998, for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. (Sec. 5) Amends ISTEA to reauthorize, through March 31, 1998: (1) appropriations for the Federal lands highway program, the national recreational trails program, highway use tax evasion projects, the scenic byways program, and intelligent transportation systems; and (2) National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration highway safety programs, alcohol traffic safety programs, the National Driver Register, the motor carrier safety program, and Federal transit programs (including fixed guideway modernization programs and certain other mass transportation programs). Makes sums available from HTF through such date for the operation lifesaver program, the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program, the National Highway Institute, and the education and training program.
Bill· SS. 1412 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Charitable Giving Incentive Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain tax-free liquidations from a closely held corporation into a tax-exempt organization. Revises unrelated business income provisions regarding property acquired subject to a mortgage with respect to such a liquidation.
Bill· SS. 1424 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise specified provisions concerning air transportation taxes applicable to flights with a segment beginning or ending in either Alaska or Hawaii.
Bill· SS. 1416 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to repeal the limit on coordinated expenditures and replaces it with a requirement permitting national committees of political parties and State committees of political parties, including any subordinate committees of State committees, to make any amount of expenditures in connection with the general election campaigns of candidates. Prohibits treating such expenditures as contributions to or expenditures made by candidates. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal: (1) the provision permitting an individual to designate income tax payments to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund; (2) the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act; and (3) the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act. Amends FECA to repeal the limits on expenditures made by presidential candidates. Prohibits: (1) persons from making contributions to presidential candidates or candidates' authorized committees that, in the aggregate, exceeds $10,000; and (2) considering such contributions as contributions for the purpose of applying the aggregate limit on contributions made by individuals. Raises certain contribution limits. Repeals the provision which considers individual contributions made in a year other than the year of the election to be made during the year of the election.
Bill· SS. 1400 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 1997 - Amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) to make available from the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) for January 1 through January 8, 1998: (1) $506 million to carry out the surface transportation program, the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program, and highway safety and commercial motor vehicle safety programs; and (2) $14 million for State apportionments for Federal-aid highway programs. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to allocate such funds to each State in the ratio that the amount allocated to the State for FY 1997 bears to the amounts allocated to all States for FY 1997. Directs the Secretary to: (1) apportion funds under (1) above in an amount sufficient to increase any State's unobligated balance, as of October 1, 1997, of such apportionments that was less than 50 percent of the State's total FY 1997 obligation authority for funds apportioned for the Federal-aid highway program to 50 percent of such authority; and (2) allocate funds under (2) above to each State in the ratio that the amount allocated to the State for FY 1997 bears to the amounts allocated to all States for FY 1997. Directs the Secretary to reduce a State's surface transportation program apportionment that would be authorized by an Act enacted after this Act by the amount of any authorization of contract authority provided to the State under this Act. Directs the Secretary, subject to a specified limit on aggregate allocations, to allocate to each State an amount of obligation authority that is: (1) equal to the greater of the State's unobligated balance of Federal-aid highway apportionments or 50 percent of the State's total FY 1997 obligation authority for Federal-aid highway funds; but (2) not greater than 75 percent of such State's FY 1997 obligation authority. Prohibits a State from obligating any funds for any Federal-aid highway program project after May 1, 1998, until the enactment of a multiyear law reauthorizing the program. Provides that the baseline prepared by the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and Budget for FY 1998 through 2003 for mandatory contract authority and mandatory outlays for Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs shall be the baseline included in the concurrent resolution on the budget for FY 1998. (Sec. 3) Authorizes a State, for FY 1998, to transfer any unobligated funds made available to it for specified Federal-aid highway program apportionments, the surface transportation program, the highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program, or specified highway and commercial motor vehicle safety programs to any other such program. Directs the Secretary, after enactment of a law authorizing the Federal-aid highway program, to restore transferred funds for any project not eligible for the funds but for this section to the program category from which the funds were transferred. Authorizes the Secretary to establish procedures under which transferred funds from a program category for which funds are not authorized may be restored to the Federal-aid highway program. (Sec. 4) Grants the Secretary specified borrowing authority if necessary to pay administrative and research expenses of the Federal-aid highway program for FY 1998, subject to specified limitations. Makes specified funds available from the HTF for contract authority for such expenses. Amends ISTEA to extend the authorization of appropriations through March 31, 1998, for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. (Sec. 5) Amends ISTEA to reauthorize, through March 31, 1998: (1) appropriations for the Federal lands highway program, the national recreational trails program, highway use tax evasion projects, the scenic byways program, and intelligent transportation systems; and (2) National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration highway safety programs, alcohol traffic safety programs, the National Driver Register, the motor carrier safety program, and Federal transit programs (including fixed guideway modernization programs and certain other mass transportation programs). Makes sums available from HTF through such date for the operation lifesaver program, the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program, the National Highway Institute, and the education and training program.
Bill· SS. 1411 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a deduction for any amount paid to the Federal Government or State or local government pursuant to any tobacco judgment or settlement. Establishes the National Institutes of Health Trust Fund for Health Research into which shall be deposited the net increase in revenues received attributable to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
Bill· HRH.R. 2919 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: National Advisory Board on Adoption Title II: Adoption Data Collection System Title III: Adoption Education Programs Title IV: Adoption Benefits for Federal Employees and Military Personnel Title V: Adoption Credit Made Permanent for Adoptions of Children Without Special Needs Title VI: Maternal Health Certificates Program Title VII: Rehabilitation Grants for Maternity Housing and Services Facilities Title VIII: Sense of Congress Regarding Changes in State Adoption Laws Omnibus Adoption Act of 1997 - Title I: National Advisory Board on Adoption - Establishes the National Advisory Board on Adoption to monitor program implementation under this Act and make recommendations to the Congress. Title II: Adoption Data Collection System - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a status report to the Congress on implementation of a certain data collection system required under the Social Security Act. Title III: Adoption Education Programs - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award social work graduate school fellowships for work in innovative programs on the effects of adoption on the parties involved. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 302) Directs the Secretary of Education to award grants to the States for implementation of adoption education programs. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Adoption Benefits for Federal Employees and Military Personnel - Amends Federal law to set forth adoption benefits for Federal employees and military personnel. Directs the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Transportation to coordinate their efforts in implementing this Act and to consult with the National Advisory Board on Adoption. Title V: Adoption Credit Made Permanent for Adoptions of Children Without Special Needs - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent: (1) the tax credit for adoptions of children without special needs; and (2) the exclusion from an employee's gross income of any amounts paid or expenses incurred by the employee's employer for qualified adoption expenses. Expresses the sense of the Congress that after studies have been done to evaluate the impact of the credit for adoption expenses for children without special needs, consideration should be given to making such credit a refundable credit. Title VI: Maternal Health Certificates Program - Directs the Secretary to establish a maternal health certificates program to cover maternity and housing services facility expenses incurred by eligible pregnant women. Authorizes appropriations. Title VII: Rehabilitation Grants for Maternity Housing and Services Facilities - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to implement a grant program to assist eligible nonprofit entities to rehabilitate buildings for use as housing and services facilities for eligible pregnant women. Authorizes appropriations. Title VIII: Sense of Congress Regarding Changes in State Adoption Laws - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the States should adopt a specified statutory adoption scheme, including certain health plan benefits.
Bill· HRH.R. 2902 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the energy credit to wind energy systems equipment with a turbine size of not more than 50 kilowatts rated capacity.
Bill· HRH.R. 2884 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Small Business Investment and Growth Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish, as specified, a maximum taxable S corporation tax. Establishes a special rule for a qualified personal service corporation. Requires each S corporation to establish a qualified retained earnings account. Allows qualified distributions from such a qualified retained earnings account to the owners to enable the S corporation shareholder to pay income taxes. Requires regulations to establish a presumption that distributions are to pay income taxes if such distributions do not exceed 34 percent of qualified taxable S corporation income. Provides for an additional tax on nonqualified distributions.
Bill· HRH.R. 2918 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase (from 50 percent), in increments, the meals and entertainment deduction to 80 percent for calendar years 2008 and thereafter.
Bill· HRH.R. 2906 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to reduce the adjusted discretionary spending limits for: (1) the nondefense category set forth in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) by two percentage points for each of FY 1999 and 2000; and (2) the discretionary category set forth in such Act by two percentage points for each of FY 2001 and 2002.
Bill· HRH.R. 2913 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to mortgage subsidy bond benefits for residences located in disaster areas to: (1) raise, from $15,000 to $100,000, the maximum amount allowed for a qualified home improvement loan; (2) consider, for income requirements, such a residence as if it were a targeted area residence; and (3) set forth provisions concerning purchase of a replacement home.
Law· HRH.R. 2870 (105th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to establish a Tropical Forest Facility in the Department of the Treasury to provide for the administration of debt reduction in accordance with this Act. Makes eligible for Facility benefits developing countries with tropical forests that: (1) meet certain requirements applicable to Latin American and Caribbean countries for eligibility for Enterprise for the Americas Facility benefits; and (2) have put in place major investment reforms in conjunction with international development bank loans or are making progress toward open investment regimes. Authorizes the President to: (1) reduce debt owed to the United States (outstanding as of January 1, 1997) by eligible countries as a result of concessional loans made under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or predecessor foreign economic assistance legislation or credits extended under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954; and (2) sell to any eligible purchaser any loan or portion of a loan made before such date to any eligible country pursuant to the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 or, on receipt of payment from an eligible purchaser, to reduce or cancel such loan. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of State to enter into a Tropical Forest Agreement with any eligible country concerning the operation and use of the Tropical Forest Fund required to be established by a country to receive payments of interest on new obligations issued under this Act. Requires Funds to be used to provide grants to preserve, maintain, and restore tropical forests in beneficiary countries. Provides that grants shall be made to: (1) nongovernmental environmental, conservation, and indigenous peoples organizations in beneficiary countries; (2) other appropriate local or regional entities; and (3) governments of such countries, in exceptional circumstances. Makes grants of more than $100,000 subject to veto by the U.S. Government or the government of the beneficiary country. Establishes a Tropical Forest Board to: (1) advise the Secretary of State on the negotiations of Tropical Forest Agreements; (2) ensure that a suitable administering body is identified for each Fund; and (3) review the programs, operations, and fiscal audits of each administering body. Requires the President to report annually to the Congress on the Facility.
Bill· HRH.R. 2880 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Amends Federal highway provisions to direct the Secretary of Transportation to withhold five percent for FY 2001, and ten percent for subsequent fiscal years, of specified apportionments to States not conducting background checks related to the purchase of a handgun pursuant to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 2903 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to preclude the payment of interest or penalties on refunds of any rates and charges for reimbursement of State ad valorem taxes ordered to be made by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in connection with natural gas sales prior to 1989. Declares that such refunds shall be required only to the extent that the purchaser demonstrates to FERC that the refund will be passed on to ultimate consumers of the natural gas.
Bill· HRH.R. 2897 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose on an owner of vending machines an excise tax of $500 annually for each vending machine of the owner that dispenses tobacco products.
Bill· HRH.R. 2872 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit (as part of the general business credit) for employers who provide qualified day care centers for the use of their employees.
Law· HJRESH.J.Res. 101 (105th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Extends the law making continuing appropriations for FY 1998 through November 9, 1997.
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 189 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Revises the concurrent resolution on the budget for FY 1998 to: (1) increase new budget authority and budget outlays for social security administrative expenses for FY 1999 through 2002; and (2) mandate an offsetting decrease in new budget authority and budget outlays for national defense for the same period.
Bill· SS. 1388 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to preclude the payment of interest or penalties on refunds of any rates and charges for reimbursement of State ad valorem taxes ordered to be made by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in connection with natural gas sales prior to 1989.
Bill· SS. 1394 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Economic Growth and Debt Reduction Act - Provides that, for purposes of this Act: (1) the initial direct spending targets for each of FY 1998 through 2002 shall equal total outlays for all direct spending except net interest as provided in H. Con. Res. 84 (105th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for FY 1998; and (2) the revenue targets are the amounts provided in such resolution. Requires the President, as part of each Federal budget submitted to the Congress, to provide an annual review of direct spending and receipts, including: (1) information on total outlays for programs covered by the direct spending targets, including actual outlays for the prior fiscal year and projected outlays for the current and five succeeding fiscal years; and (2) any amount by which revenues for a budget year and any outyears through FY 2002 exceed the revenue target. Directs the Office of Management and Budget to include the amount of any changes in revenues as a deficit decrease under specified estimates and sequestration reports required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Provides that any amount not to exceed the amount of deficit decrease may only be offset by legislation decreasing revenues. Directs the President to include a special direct spending message in the budget if the information submitted indicates that: (1) actual outlays for direct spending in the prior fiscal year exceeded the applicable spending target; or (2) outlays for the current or budget year are projected to exceed targets. Requires such message to include: (1) an analysis of the variance in direct spending over the direct spending targets; (2) recommendations for eliminating overages, if any, in the prior, current, or budget year; and (3) the text of a special direct spending resolution implementing such recommendations through reconciliation directives instructing the appropriate committees to recommend changes in laws within their jurisdictions. Provides a point of order against consideration of any concurrent budget resolution unless it fully eliminates the entirety of any overage contained in the President's message. Makes special message and point of order procedures inapplicable for any fiscal year in which the overage is less than one-half of one percent of the direct spending target for that year. Applies this Act to direct spending targets and revenues for FY 1998 through 2002.
Bill· SS. 1386 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish final numerical sediment quality criteria for the ten toxic, persistent, or bioaccumulative substances that are most likely to adversely affect human health and the environment. Provides for review and revision of the list of such substances every three years. Directs the Administrator to revise the hazard ranking system (part of the national hazardous substance response plan under CERCLA) to ensure that the system more accurately assesses the health and environmental risks from aquatic sites with contaminated sediments (as such term is applied under provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) dealing with contaminated sediments in the Great Lakes). Prohibits such assessment from including consideration of costs of carrying out response actions or requiring identification of the source of a hazardous substance release. Authorizes the Administrator to expend up to $3 million per fiscal year out of the Hazardous Substance Superfund to carry out response and other corrective actions at facilities containing contaminated sediments (as such term is applied under the Clean Water Act provisions). Requires the Administrator, from the national survey of data regarding aquatic sediment quality conducted under the Water Resources Development Act of 1992, to identify the 20 facilities containing contaminated sediments (as such term is applied under the Clean Water Act provisions) that are most likely to adversely affect health and the environment and that have not been the subject of Federal or State response actions or other corrective actions. Directs the Administrator to prepare and submit to the Congress a comprehensive scoring package under the hazard ranking system for each facility unless a State or remedial action planning committee objects to the assessment necessary for scoring in an area or watershed under its jurisdiction. Provides that criteria for determining priorities among hazardous substance releases for purposes of taking remedial action shall not be based on the extent to which the President can identify potentially responsible parties or specific sources of a release. Requires the Administrator to report to the Congress on the extent to which the hazard ranking system (as revised in 1990) has achieved certain objectives regarding accurate assessment of health and environmental risks posed by facilities and water contamination risks.
Bill· SS. 1392 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Economic Growth and Government Efficiency Act of 1997 - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for any program funded by discretionary appropriations that is repealed by law in the fiscal year preceding the budget year, to determine: (1) the amount appropriated for the program in the last fiscal year the program was funded; and (2) based on such amount, the dollar equivalent of that amount adjusted for inflation in fiscal years beginning with the budget year through FY 2002. Includes such amounts as deficit decreases in OMB estimates and sequestration reports unless offset by legislation decreasing revenues. Reduces the discretionary caps by amounts equal to such deficit decreases. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide that revenue decreases offset as provided by this Act shall not be treated as increasing the deficit.
Bill· SS. 1393 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permanently extend tax incentives for use of alcohol as fuel.
Bill· SS. 1395 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program to provide low-income, minority, or disadvantaged college students with information, preparation, and financial assistance to gain access to and complete law school study. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with, or make a grant to, the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, for at least a five-year period, to deliver specified services under such program, directly and through subgrants and subcontracts. Directs the Secretary to establish annually the maximum stipend to be paid to Thurgood Marshall Fellows for the period of prelaw preparation in summer institutes and midyear seminar prior to and during the period of law school study. Sets forth the maximum amount of grants for such program services for any fiscal year.
Bill· HRH.R. 2840 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Regulatory Right-to-Know Act of 1997 - Directs the President, no later than January 2000 and each January every two years thereafter, to submit to the Congress an accounting statement that estimates the costs and corresponding benefits of Federal regulatory programs and program elements. Provides for each accounting statement submitted to: (1) cover, at a minimum, the costs and corresponding benefits for the five fiscal years preceding October 1 of the year in which the report is submitted; and (2) also contain a projection of the costs and corresponding benefits for the next ten fiscal years. Directs the President to propose the first accounting statement no later than one year after the enactment of this Act. Provides for such statement to cover, at a minimum, each of the preceding fiscal years beginning with FY 1997. Requires the President, acting through the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in each year following the year in which the President submits an accounting statement and after notice and opportunity for comment, to submit to the Congress a report associated with the accounting statement containing: (1) analyses of impacts; (2) an analysis of jurisdictional overlaps, duplications, and potential inconsistencies among Federal regulatory programs; and (3) recommendations for reform. Requires the Director to: (1) provide guidance to agencies to standardize measures of costs and benefits in accounting statements and the format of the accounting statements; and (2) review submissions from agencies to assure consistency with the guidance. Directs the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, after each accounting statement and associated report is submitted to the Congress, to make recommendations to the President for improving accounting statements and associated reports.
Bill· HRH.R. 2838 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Taxpayer Bill of Rights III - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to, among other things: (1) place the burden of proof, with respect to any factual issue relevant to ascertaining tax liability, on the Secretary of the Treasury; (2) require the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), upon the request of a taxpayer, to provide a taxpayer with a written transcript of any oral advice; (3) direct the Secretary to establish an office within the IRS to receive taxpayer suggestions and complaints; (4) direct the Secretary to establish a mediation service within the IRS; (5) prohibit the use of random audits and investigation quotas; and (6) in a court proceeding, make IRS employees personally liable under specified circumstances.
Bill· HRH.R. 2858 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances Subtitle B: Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances Subtitle D: Retired Pay, Survivor Benefits, and Related Matters Subtitle E: Other Matters Title II: Health Care Provisions Subtitle A: Health Care Services Subtitle B: Tricare Program Subtitle C: Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities Subtitle D: Other Changes to Existing Laws Regarding Health Care Management Subtitle E: Other Matters Subtitle F: Persian Gulf Illness Title III: Military Construction, Army Title IV: Military Construction, Navy Title V: Military Construction, Air Force Title VI: Military Construction, Defense Agencies Title VII: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program Title VIII: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities Title IX: Expiration and Extension of Certain Authorizations Title X: General Military Construction Provisions Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes Subtitle B: Real Property and Facilities Administration Subtitle C: Defense Base Closure and Realignment Subtitle D: Land Conveyances Subtitle E: Other Matters Title XI: Sikes Act Improvement Military Readiness Act of 1997 - Title I: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits - Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances - Waives any FY 1998 military pay increases tied to increases in the General Schedule of Compensation for Government employees. Increases the rates of basic pay by 2.8 percent, effective January 1, 1998. (Sec. 102) Entitles all enlisted personnel other than those in basic training to the basic allowance for subsistence (BAS). Provides a new BAS rate based on food costs. Allows BAS to be paid to enlisted personnel in advance for not more than three months. Directs the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to prescribe policies regarding the use of dining and field messing facilities of the military departments. Provides transitional provisions with respect to the current BAS, terminating such transitional authority on a specified conditional date. (Sec. 103) Consolidates and revises generally Federal provisions concerning the basic allowance for quarters (BAQ), the variable housing allowance, and overseas housing allowances (which include a family separation housing allowance). (Sec. 104) Requires the President to adjust the basic pay of military personnel whenever the General Schedule of Compensation is adjusted. Authorizes the President to allocate such increases among pay grade and years-of-service categories, requiring congressional notification of any such allocation. Requires quadrennial assessment of such allocations. (Sec. 105) Prohibits the total pay and allowances of a member from being reduced when such member is assigned either to field duty at a home station or to temporary duty away from the member's permanent duty station. Subtitle B: Bonuses and Special and Incentive Pays - Extends through FY 1999 specified authorities currently scheduled to expire at the end of FY 1998 with respect to certain special pay and bonus programs within the regular and reserve armed forces. (Sec. 114) Increases the monthly hazardous duty incentive pay and the aviation career incentive pay, the latter effective as of January 1, 1999. (Sec. 116) Increases the aviation officer retention bonus and authorizes bonus agreements to extend for a third year. (Currently, only one or two-year agreements are permitted.) (Sec. 117) Authorizes the payment of an annual retention bonus for certain dental officers who execute a written agreement to remain on active duty for two, three, or four years after completion of their active-duty service commitment. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to extend such bonus authority to other dental officers not immediately qualifying for such bonus. (Sec. 118) Increases the variable and additional special pays for dental officers with specified years of creditable service. (Sec. 119) Authorizes the payment of special pay for members on duty at a location designated by the Secretary as a hardship duty location. (Sec. 121) Makes eligible for the Selected Reserve reenlistment bonus those Reserve enlisted personnel with less than 14 (currently, ten) years of total military service. Authorizes the payment of bonuses for consecutive three-year reenlistments. Revises bonus amounts. (Sec. 122) Provides eligibility for the Selected Reserve reenlistment bonus to an enlisted member of a reserve component who has completed less than 14 (currently, ten) years of total military service. Increases bonus amounts. Provides similar eligibility and amount revisions with respect to former enlisted personnel who become members of the Selected Reserve after completion of their enlisted service. (Sec. 123) Extends to Coast Guard personnel eligibility for payment of a bonus when entering into a reserve affiliation agreement to serve in the reserves upon completion of an active-duty tour. (Sec. 124) Increases the special pay and bonuses authorized for nuclear qualified officers. (Sec. 125) Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned (Secretary concerned) to pay either a monthly special pay or an annual bonus for enlisted personnel with designated specialties who agree to extend their tours of duty at designated overseas locations. Requires pro rata repayment of an unearned bonus, with a waiver authorized. Prohibits the concurrent receipt by such personnel of the annual bonus and rest and recuperative absence or transportation. (Sec. 126) Increases from $75 to $100 the monthly family separation allowance. (Sec. 127) Allows for payment of the muster duty allowance within 30 days after such duty is performed. (Currently, such payment is required on or before the date of such duty.) Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances - Removes certain restrictions on the payment of travel and transportation allowances to dependents of members who receive certain court-martial sentences. (Sec. 132) Changes the authorized amount of the military dislocation allowance from two months of the BAQ to a rate based on the member's pay and dependency status. Subtitle D: Retired Pay, Survivor Benefits, and Related Matters - Authorizes a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) to elect to discontinue participation at any time during the one-year period beginning on the second anniversary of the date on which payment of retired pay to the participant commences. Requires spousal concurrence, with an exception. (Sec. 142) Allows at any time (currently, within one year after remarriage) a change of election in SBP coverage to provide an annuity to a spouse instead of a former spouse. (Sec. 143) Directs the Secretary to review and report to the defense committees on the current Federal protections and benefits afforded to: (1) current and former military personnel and Federal employees; and (2) former spouses of such personnel and employees. (Sec. 144) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay an annuity to the qualified surviving spouse of each member who: (1) died before March 21, 1974, and was entitled to retired or retainer pay at the time of death; or (2) was a reserve member between September 21, 1972, and October 1, 1978, and at the time of death would have been entitled to retired or retainer pay except for not having attained 60 years of age. Provides annuity amounts. Terminates annuity payment authority on September 30, 2001. (Sec. 145) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1989 to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to consolidate into a single payment certain annuities currently paid by the Secretary of Defense to the survivors of military retirees. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary concerned to repay loans used to finance the education of commissioned officers who are qualified in the health professions. Requires the officer to serve an additional period of active duty in return for such repayment. Limits the repayment amount to $22,000 for each additional year that the officer agrees to extend his or her duty. (Sec. 152) Amends the Coast and Geodetic Survey Commissioned Officers' Act of 1948 to bring the separation pay provisions of commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration into conformity with separation pay authorized for members of the armed forces. (Sec. 153) Makes members of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration eligible for reimbursement of certain adoption expenses. (Sec. 154) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay to World War II veterans who served as guerilla fighters in the Philippines an amount representing the quarters and subsistence allowance which accrued during the period of service between January 1942 and February 1945. (Sec. 155) Directs the Secretary to study and report on military personnel and their families who subsist at, near, or below the poverty level. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make available to the Secretary the same payments and commodities for military personnel outside the United States as are made for the special supplemental food program in the United States under the Child Nutrition Act of 1996. Requires an implementation report. Title II: Health Care Provisions - Subtitle A: Health Care Services - Amends the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) to include under its military retiree dental insurance plan the surviving spouse and child dependents of military personnel who die while on active duty of 30 days or more and whose dependents are no longer eligible for dental benefits under the regular dental insurance plan. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the provision of prosthetic devices necessary due to significant conditions resulting from trauma, congenital anomalies, or disease. (Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary to conduct a study on the provision to TRICARE beneficiaries of comparative information on the medical assistance provided by a managed care entity. Subtitle B: Tricare Program - Directs the Secretary to prepare and submit a plan for the expansion of the managed care option of the TRICARE Program known as TRICARE Prime into areas outside of the catchment areas of military medical treatment facilities in which such option is a cost-effective alternative. Subtitle C: Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 to authorize the Secretary to modify the effective date of the implementation of military health care designated provider agreements to permit a transition period of not more than six months between the date of agreement execution and the date on which the designated provider commences delivery of health care services. Provides for the temporary continuation during such period of existing health care participation agreements. (Sec. 222) Requires a designated provider to be considered part of the Department of Defense (DOD) for purposes of the continued acquisition of reduced-cost drugs for enrollees under the agreement. (Sec. 223) Directs the Secretary, in establishing the ceiling rate for designated provider enrollees who are also eligible for CHAMPUS services, to take into account the health status of such enrollees. Subtitle D: Other Changes to Existing Law Regarding Health Care Management - Makes active-duty personnel assigned to certain remote duty locations eligible for health care under CHAMPUS. Directs the Secretary to waive any deductible, copayment, or annual CHAMPUS fee with respect to such personnel. (Sec. 232) Authorizes the Secretary to waive or reduce the overseas dental plan copayments required of military dependents who accompany members overseas. (Sec. 233) Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish procedures for the collection of the member's share of premiums under the Selected Reserve dental insurance plan and the retiree dental insurance plan; (2) allow such members to pay such premiums through payroll deduction; and (3) submit an implementation program with respect to both plans. Extends through April 1, 1998, the deadline for implementation of the dental insurance plan for military retirees. (Sec. 234) Makes the administering Secretaries (Secretaries of Defense, Health and Human Services, and Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard when not operating as a service of the Navy) (currently, only the Secretary of Defense) responsible for CHAMPUS dental plan coverage for certain military retirees and their dependents. (Sec. 235) Revises CHAMPUS provisions to conform health care provider reimbursement rates with such rates under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. (Sec. 236) Authorizes the Secretaries of Defense and Transportation to enter into personal services contracts to carry out certain health care responsibilities at locations outside of military medical treatment facilities. Includes the actions of service contract personnel under provisions concerning the defense of lawsuits arising out of medical malpractice. Requires a report from the Secretary on alternative means for performing medical screening examinations routinely performed at military entrance processing stations. (Sec. 237) Authorizes any health-care professional holding a current medical, dental, or other health care license to practice within a DOD health care facility, a civilian facility affiliated with DOD, or any other location authorized by the Secretary. (Sec. 238) Requires the Secretary to prescribe a standard form for the admission of claims for the payment of health care services provided under CHAMPUS. (Sec. 239) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 to extend through FY 1999 the chiropractic health care demonstration program. Requires such program to be expanded to at least three other military health care facilities, including the National Naval Medical Center and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Directs the Secretary to: (1) report to the defense committees on the additional facilities participating in the program; and (2) modify the program to evaluate its effectiveness at all of the facilities. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to enter into an agreement with an accredited institution of higher education under which students may attend the physician assistant training program conducted by the Army Medical Department at the Academy of Health Sciences at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, in return for the institution's agreeing to perform Academy support services. (Sec. 242) Authorizes the Secretary to pay the costs of any overseas emergency health care provided to military and civilian personnel of the On-Site Inspection Agency. Provides funding. (Sec. 243) Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force, after 90 days' notice to the defense and appropriations committees, to enter into an agreement with Gerald Champion Hospital, Alamagordo, New Mexico, for the provision of health care services to eligible individuals in a medical resource facility in Alamagordo that is constructed, in part, using funds provided by the Secretary under the agreement. Provides funding for such agreement from Air Force operation and maintenance (O&M) funds. Directs the Secretary to review the proposed agreement and provide comments to the Congress before the agreement may take effect. (Sec. 244) Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations requiring each source dispensing a prescription medication under CHAMPUS to furnish to the recipient cautionary information on such medication. (Sec. 245) Requires, by October 1, 1998, the competitive procurement outside DOD of all ophthalmic services related to the provision of eyeware for certain current and former military personnel and their beneficiaries, with an exception. (Sec. 246) Directs the Comptroller General (CG) to conduct studies evaluating: (1) the adequacy of the maximum allowable charges for physicians under CHAMPUS and the effect of such charges on physician participation in CHAMPUS; (2) DOD pharmacy programs; and (3) the validity of recommendations made by the Navy's Medical Education Policy Council regarding restructuring the Navy's graduate medical education program (prohibits any restructuring until a required report is submitted). (Sec. 249) Directs the Secretary to report on expanding the eligibility for participation in a demonstration project for the purchase of prescription pharmaceuticals by mail to include additional Medicare-eligible CHAMPUS beneficiaries. (Sec. 250) Directs the CG to study and report to the Congress and the Secretary on current requirements for military medical facilities in the National Capital Region. (Sec. 251) Directs the Secretary to report to the defense committees on the effectiveness of DOD policies and programs promoting healthy lifestyles among military personnel and their dependents. (Sec. 252) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Congress and the President should address the problems associated with the provision of quality health care to military retirees. Subtitle F: Persian Gulf Illness - Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to jointly prepare and submit a plan to provide appropriate health care to Persian Gulf veterans (and their dependents) who suffer from a Gulf War illness. (Sec. 263) Directs the CG to submit a study evaluating revised DOD criteria used by physical evaluation boards to set disability ratings for military personnel who are no longer medically qualified for active duty so as to ensure the accuracy of such ratings with respect to the diagnosis of a Persian Gulf illness. (Sec. 264) Entitles to medical care to the same extent as a member on active duty a member of the reserves who is: (1) a Persian Gulf War veteran with a qualifying symptom or illness; and (2) not otherwise entitled to medical and dental care under either CHAMPUS or veterans' medical care. (Sec. 265) Directs the Secretary to establish a medical tracking system for military personnel deployed outside the United States as part of a contingency or combat operation. (Sec. 266) Directs the Secretary to provide affected members with specified information with regard to the receipt of an investigational new drug, including new drug notification and information concerning possible side effects. (Sec. 267) Directs the Secretary to submit a plan for tracking members and units serving in a theater of operations during a contingency or combat operation. (Sec. 268) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary should ensure that U.S. military units involved in a contingency or combat operation include specialized units to detect and monitor the presence of chemical, biological, and similar hazards. (Sec. 269) Directs the Secretary to report on the effectiveness of medical research initiatives regarding Persian Gulf War illnesses. (Sec. 270) Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to establish a program of cooperative clinical trials at multiple sites to address the effectiveness of protocols for treating Persian Gulf War veterans who suffer from ill-defined or undiagnosed conditions. (Sec. 271) Expresses the sense of the Congress that all promising technologies and treatments relating to Persian Gulf War illnesses should be fully explored and tested to facilitate treatment to such veterans who are stricken with unexplainable illness. Title III: Military Construction, Army - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to construct or acquire family housing units, to carry out architectural planning and design activities, and to improve existing military family housing in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations to the Army for fiscal years after 1997 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Army. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. (Sec. 305) Authorizes the use of prior-year military construction funds to construct a heliport at Fort Irwin, California. Title IV: Military Construction, Navy - Provides, with respect to the Navy, authorizations for purposes paralleling those for which authorizations are provided for the Army under the previous title. (Sec. 405) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 to: (1) authorize a military construction project at the Naval Station in Pascagoula, Mississippi, using funds authorized under such Act; and (2) increase the amount authorized for a project at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Title V: Military Construction, Air Force - Provides, with respect to the Air Force, authorizations for purposes paralleling those for which authorizations are provided for the Army. (Sec. 505) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 to authorize a military construction project at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, using funds authorized under such Act. Title VI: Military Construction, Defense Agencies - Authorizes the Secretary to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out architectural planning and design activities and to improve existing military family housing units, in specified amounts. (Sec. 604) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out certain energy conservation projects. (Sec. 605) Authorizes appropriations to DOD for fiscal years beginning after 1997 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of DOD. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. (Sec. 607) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out specified military construction projects, using amounts authorized under a prior military construction authorization Act, for a project at McClellan Air Force Base, California. (Sec. 608) Increases the amounts authorized under a prior military construction authorization Act for projects at Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas, and Umatilla Army Depot, Oregon. Title VII: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program - Authorizes the Secretary to make contributions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program and authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1997 for such contributions. Title VIII: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1997 for the Guard and Reserve forces for acquisition, architectural and engineering services, and construction of facilities. (Sec. 802) Increases the amounts authorized under a prior military construction authorization Act for projects at the Army National Guard, Hilo, Hawaii, and the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve, New Orleans, Louisiana. (Sec. 803) Directs the Secretary of the Army, with regard to a military construction project at Camp Williams, Utah, to enter into an agreement under which the State of Utah agrees to provide financial or in-kind contributions toward project land acquisition, site preparation, and relocation costs. Title IX: Expiration and Extension of Certain Authorizations - Terminates all authorizations contained in titles III through VIII of this Act on October 1, 2000, or the date of enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for FY 2001, whichever is later, with exceptions. Extends certain prior-year military construction projects. (Sec. 906) Extends the availability of funds appropriated under a prior defense appropriations Act for construction of over-the-horizon radar at the Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Title X: General Military Construction Provisions - Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes - Requires the Secretary concerned to provide congressional notification when carrying out unspecified minor construction projects even though the project will use funds made available to enhance the deployment and mobility of military forces and supplies. (Sec. 1002) Requires congressional notification by the Secretary concerned when using O&M funds to carry out a repair project with an estimated cost in excess of $10 million. (Sec. 1003) Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to lease up to eight family housing units in the Miami, Florida area for key and essential personnel of the United States Southern Command for which unit rental expenditures exceed normal authorized amounts. (Sec. 1004) Provides for the crediting of financial incentives received by DOD from gas, electric, and water utilities for energy and water cost savings. (Sec. 1005) Requires congressional notification with respect to the use of DOD housing funds for investments in nongovernmental entities. Subtitle B: Real Property and Facilities Administration - Increases from $200,000 to $500,000 the minor land acquisition threshold. (Sec. 1012) Authorizes the Secretary of a military department to convey to a municipal, private, regional, district, or cooperative utility company or other entity part or all of a utility system under its jurisdiction. Requires 21-day prior congressional notification. (Sec. 1013) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to accept amounts provided by a person or entity to cover administrative expenses incurred in entering into real property transactions. (Sec. 1014) Prohibits the Secretary concerned from conveying any real property unless the Administrator of General Services has screened the property for further Federal use under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949. Requires notification to the Secretary concerned of screening results. Provides excepted conveyances. (Sec. 1015) Provides for the disposition of proceeds from the sale of Air Force Plant No. 78 in Brigham City, Utah. (Sec. 1016) Directs the Secretary of the Army to report to the defense and appropriations committees a plan to address the requirements for fire protection and hazardous materials protection services at Fort Meade, Maryland. Subtitle C: Defense Base Closure and Realignment - Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act to direct the head of the Federal agency acquiring non-federal property as a new or replacement Federal facility to consult with the Secretary concerning the feasibility and cost advantages of using Federal property or facilities at a closed military installation in lieu of such an acquisition. Requires the concurrence of the redevelopment authority for the area concerned. (Sec. 1022) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants, conclude cooperative agreements, and supplement other Federal funds to assist a State or local government in enhancing that government's capability to support DOD efforts to privatize its military family support services. (Sec. 1023) Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to enter into an agreement with the local redevelopment authority for the Red River Army Depot, Texas, under which the Secretary shall provide security, fire protection, or hazardous material response services on property under the jurisdiction of such authority after realignment under the base closure laws. (Sec. 1024) Directs the Secretary to prepare and submit to the defense and appropriations committees a report on costs and savings attributable to prior base closure rounds and on the need for additional base closure rounds. Requires the Congressional Budget Office and the CG to review such report. Prohibits the use of any funds for the closure or realignment of military installations until such report and reviews are completed. Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary should develop a system for determining actual costs and savings associated with base closures and apply such system to the 1995 base closure round. (Sec. 1025) Expresses the sense of the Senate that the savings derived from the base closure process should be utilized by DOD solely for the modernization of new weapon systems. (Sec. 1026) Prohibits the Secretary of the Navy, in disposing of real property in connection with the closure of Naval Station, Long Beach, California, from conveying any portion of such property to the China Ocean Shipping Company or any of its successors or subsidiaries. Provides a reversionary interest to the United States if such a transfer occurs. Requires the Secretary and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to separately submit to the President and the defense and appropriations committees a report on the national security implications of such a conveyance. Provides presidential waiver authority with respect to the prohibition. Subtitle D: Land Conveyances - Part I: Army Conveyances - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to convey to: (1) Hale County, Alabama, specified real property at the Army Reserve Center, Greensboro; (2) Big Five Community Services Incorporated, an Oklahoma nonprofit corporation, the James T. Coker Army Reserve Center in Durant; (3) the Lawndale Business and Local Development Corporation in Illinois the Gibson Army Reserve Center, Chicago; (4) Caroline County, Virginia, specified real property at Fort A.P. Hill; (5) Wrightstown, New Jersey, and the New Hanover Board of Education specified portions of real property at Fort Dix; (6) Spring Lake and Harnett County, North Carolina, specified portions of real property at Fort Bragg; and (7) Mineral County, Nevada, the Schweer Driving House Area within the Hawthorne Army Ammunition Depot. (Sec. 1038) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to authorize the Secretary of the Army to convey to Indiana an additional parcel of real property at the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. (Sec. 1039) Modifies prior land conveyances with respect to: (1) Lompoc, California; (2) the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Colorado; and (3) the Army Reserve Center, Andersen, South Carolina. Part II: Navy Conveyances - Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to convey to: (1) the Maine School Administrative District No. 75, Topsham, a parcel of the Topsham Annex, Naval Air Station in Brunswick; and (2) Nassau County, New York, the Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant No. 464 in Oyster Bay. (Sec. 1053) Amends the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 to change from the State of Mississippi to Lauderdale County, Mississippi, the lessee designation with respect to a lease of the Naval Air Station in Meridian. Part III: Air Force Conveyances - Transfers administrative jurisdiction over specified real property at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, from the Secretary of Transportation to the Secretary of the Air Force. Revokes a contrary executive order. (Sec. 1062) Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to convey to: (1) Air Force Village West, Incorporated, in Riverside, California, specified real property at March Air Force Base; (2) the Greater Box Elder Area Economic Development Corporation in Box Elder, South Dakota, specified real property at Ellsworth Air Force Base; (3) Onondaga County, New York, specified real property at Hancock Field, Syracuse; (4) the Bear Paw Development Corporation, Havre, Montana, the Havre Air Force Station and the Havre Training Site; and (5) Bangor, Maine, the Charleston Family Housing Complex in Bangor. (Sec. 1067) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to direct the Secretary of the Air Force to report on Air Force land exchange options in the vicinity of Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to terminate or reduce the operations of the Naval Academy Dairy Farm in Gambrills, Maryland. Authorizes such Secretary to lease the dairy farm property, as long as the rural and agricultural nature of the property is maintained. (Sec. 1072) Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to acquire by long-term lease structures and real property relating to a regional hospital complex in Naples, Italy, that are suitable for the Naples Improvement Initiative. (Sec. 1073) Designates specified military family housing developments at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in honor of Frank Tejeda, a late Member of the House of Representatives. (Sec. 1074) Directs the Secretary, in at least one U.S. metropolitan area containing multiple military installations, to provide for the installation of fiber-optics based telecommunications technology to link as many of such installations as possible. Title XI: Sikes Act Improvement - Sikes Act Improvement Act of 1997 - Amends an Act of September 15, 1960, commonly known as the Sikes Act, to officially designate such Act as the Sikes Act. Directs (current law authorizes) the Secretary to carry out a program for the conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources on military installations. Requires the Secretary of each military department to prepare and implement an integrated natural resources management plan (plan) for each military installation under his or her jurisdiction. Authorizes such Secretaries to provide for: (1) the conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources on such installations and the sustainable multipurpose use of such resources; and (2) public access to such installations to facilitate their use. Directs each Secretary to: (1) review military installations under his or her jurisdiction for which the preparation of a plan is appropriate; (2) submit such determinations to the Secretary; and (3) implement such plans within three years thereafter. Requires the Secretary to report such reviews to the Congress. Provides an opportunity for public comment on such plans. (Sec. 1106) Allows wildlife conservation fees collected at military installations which are subsequently closed to be transferred to another military installation and used for the same purpose. (Sec. 1107) Requires annual reviews and reports by the Secretaries of Defense and the Interior with respect to the implementation of such plans. (Sec. 1108) Authorizes multiyear cooperative agreements for plan implementation. (Sec. 1109) Provides for the enforcement on military installations of all Federal laws relating to natural resources conservation on Federal lands. (Sec. 1110) Requires the Secretary of each military department to ensure that sufficient numbers of trained natural resource management and law enforcement personnel are available and assigned to perform necessary tasks for plan compliance. (Sec. 1114) Extends through FY 2003 the authorization of appropriations for natural resources conservation programs on military installations, as well as equivalent programs on other public lands.
Bill· HRH.R. 2860 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Budget Surplus Dividend Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allocate credits to taxpayers for social security taxes, during any year in which there is a Federal budget surplus of more than $1 billion, so as to utilize 50 percent of such surplus. Requires that, during any such year, the remainder of such surplus shall be split and used to: (1) reduce the outstanding public debt; and (2) increase nondefense discretionary spending limits.
Bill· HRH.R. 2847 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Higher Education Affordability and Availability Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (as revised by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997) to exclude from income distributions from qualified tuition programs used for qualifying higher education expenses. Includes within the definition of "qualified State tuition program" programs maintained by eligible educational institutions. Requires such non-State programs to limit annual contributions on behalf of a designated beneficiary to $5,000. Sets forth related excess contribution provisions.
Bill· SS. 1373 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Political Relationship Title II: Applicability of Federal Law Title III: Foreign Affairs and Defense Title IV: Courts Title V: Trade Title VI: Taxation Title VII: Immigration Title VIII: Labor Title IX: Transportation and Telecommunications Title X: Land, Natural Resources, and Utilities Title XI: United States Financial Assistance Title XII: Technical Amendments and Interpretation Guam Commonwealth Act - Title I: Political Relationship - Creates the Commonwealth of Guam. Grants the people of Guam the right of full self-government through adoption of a Constitution and within specified guidelines. (Sec. 102) Recognizes the right of self-determination of the people of Guam. Directs the U.S. Government to promote preservation of the Chamorro culture, enhanced economic, social, and educational opportunities for Chamorros, and training of Chamorros for employment. Directs Guam to establish a land trust for the benefit of the indigenous Chamorro people and to establish residency requirements under the Constitution of Guam for voting and holding elective office. (Sec. 103) Allows this Act to be modified only with the mutual consent of the Governments of the United States and Guam. Title II: Applicability of Federal Law - Makes specified provisions of, and amendments to, the U.S. Constitution applicable to Guam. (Sec. 202) Makes Federal laws, rules, or regulations passed after the date of this Act inapplicable unless mutually consented to by the Governments of the United States and Guam. (Sec. 203) Creates the Joint Commission on the Applicability of Federal Law. (Sec. 204) Authorizes the President to delegate to the Governor of Guam performance of functions now vested in Federal administrative agencies. Title III: Foreign Affairs and Defense - Grants the United States responsibility for authority with respect to matters relating to foreign affairs and defense that affect Guam. (Sec. 302) Prohibits the establishment of military security zones or the stationing of foreign military personnel on the Island of Guam without the approval of the Government of Guam except in time of declared war, or the establishment of military bases without consultation with the Governor. (Sec. 304) Prohibits the United States from using Guam or the water surrounding it for the dumping or storage of nuclear waste or hazardous chemicals. Provides for the cleanup by the United States of chemical dump sites used by the military. Requires the United States to compensate any person injured as a result of hazardous materials stored, used, or disposed of by the U.S. Government in Guam or its waters. Title IV: Courts - Specifies provisions governing the relations between U.S. courts and the local courts of Guam, the jurisdiction of the District Court of Guam, and the applicable district court rules. (Sec. 404) Provides for the appointment of a judge for the District Court of Guam, a U.S. attorney, and a U.S. marshal for Guam. Title V: Trade - Establishes a Guam-United States free trade area. (Sec. 501) Authorizes Guam to impose, increase, reduce, or eliminate duties and other restrictions on certain imports and exports. Title VI: Taxation - Makes U.S. income tax laws applicable to Guam. Deems such laws to impose a separate tax to be known as the Guam Commonwealth income tax. (Sec. 603) Allows the Government of Guam to provide for the rebate or reduction of taxes in order to assist new industries or economic development. (Sec. 604) Grants Guam the power to determine the nature and amount of taxes imposed upon the income and property of persons within its jurisdiction. Repeals applicable U.S. tax laws one year after Guam has enacted a replacement comprehensive local income tax. (Sec. 605) Exempts all bonds or other obligations issued by Guam from taxation by Federal, State, or local governments of the United States. Title VII: Immigration - Applies the Immigration and Nationality Act and pertinent Federal regulations to Guam for two years from enactment of this Act. Directs Guam to enact a comprehensive law on immigration to become effective at the end of the two-year period. (Sec. 702) Authorizes U.S. consular officials to issue visas for travel only to Guam for any alien seeking to enter Guam as a non-immigrant in order to encourage investors and tourists to come to Guam. Title VIII: Labor - Grants preference to qualified residents of Guam in all Federal civil service vacancies occurring in Guam. (Sec. 802) Grants Guam the authority to enact and enforce all laws regulating or affecting employment in Guam. Title IX: Transportation and Telecommunications - Precludes application of any U.S. law barring the U.S. registration and use of any foreign-built vessel within the waters around Guam for any purpose. (Sec. 901) Exempts from the coastwise laws of the United States any shipment of fish or fish products from Guam to any U.S. coastwise destination. Directs the Commission to examine the applicability of such laws and to recommend their termination upon determining that such laws constrain Guam's economic development. (Sec. 902) Authorizes the Governor of Guam to sponsor any qualified air service carrier to come to Guam, subject to presidential consultation concerning U.S. foreign policy and national defense interests. Exempts Guam from all bilateral treaties between the United States and foreign states with respect to scheduling and technical specifications of aircraft, other than safety requirements. (Sec. 903) Defines Guam as "domestic" for Federal Communications Commission rate setting purposes. Title X: Land, Natural Resources, and Utilities - Grants the Government of Guam the power of eminent domain. (Sec. 1001) Sets limits on U.S. acquisition of real property on Guam. Exempts Guam from Federal regulations governing the transfer or sale of excess Federal real property. Provides for the transfer of all excess Federal property to Guam, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 1003) Provides for access and use by the residents of Guam of certain retained Federal property, subject to military security requirements. (Sec. 1004) Directs the United States to transfer ownership of island utilities to Guam. Title XI: United States Financial Assistance - Provides for the return of U.S. revenues from taxes and fees collected in Guam to the Government of Guam. Makes U.S. laws providing Federal benefits and financial assistance which are applicable to the States equally applicable to Guam. (Sec. 1104) Directs the Governor of Guam, in preparing an annual budget, to identify the costs and benefits to Guam brought about by its role as one of the principal U.S. military bastions in the Far East. (Sec. 1105) Provides for assistance to aid Guam's transition to a Commonwealth. Title XII: Technical Amendments and Interpretation - Makes technical and conforming amendments. (Sec. 1204) Requires this Act to be submitted to the registered voters of Guam for ratification after being passed by the Congress. Repeals the Organic Act of Guam in specified phases.
Bill· HRH.R. 2824 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1997
Balanced Budget Incentive Act - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to prohibit rates of pay for Members of Congress from being increased, as a result of a cost-of-living adjustment, by a percentage greater than the maximum percentage allowable for a year. Provides that the maximum percentage allowable for a year is the percentage by which benefits under title II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act are increased (if at all) effective December 1 of the preceding year pursuant to a cost-of-living or general benefit increase. Bars annual pay increases for Members of Congress for a calendar year if the Director of the Congressional Budget Office determines that there was a deficit in the U.S. Government budget for the last fiscal year ending before the start of such calendar year.
Bill· HRH.R. 2821 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude distributions form an individual retirement account from inclusion in gross income to the extent that such distributions are used for charitable purposes.
Bill· HRH.R. 2817 (105th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1997
Printed Circuit Investment Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to classify as three-year depreciable property any printed wiring board or printed wiring assembly equipment.
Bill· HRH.R. 2826 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a limited tax credit to a first-time purchaser of a principal residence in an enterprise zone or an empowerment community.
Bill· HRH.R. 2825 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1997
Economic Growth and Social Security Transition Act - Provides that, for purposes of this Act: (1) the initial direct spending targets for each of FY 1998 through 2002 shall equal total outlays for all direct spending except net interest as provided in H. Con. Res. 84 (105th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for FY 1998, unless such outlays are reduced by a subsequent budget resolution (in which case the lower level of total outlays except net interest shall be used); and (2) the revenue targets are the amounts provided in such resolution. Requires the President, as part of each Federal budget submitted to the Congress, to provide an annual review of direct spending and receipts, including: (1) information on total outlays for programs covered by the direct spending targets, including actual outlays for the prior fiscal year and projected outlays for the current and five succeeding fiscal years; and (2) any amount by which revenues for a budget year and any outyears through FY 2002 exceed the revenue target. Directs the Office of Management and Budget to include the amount of any changes in revenues as a deficit decrease under specified estimates and sequestration reports required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Provides that any amount not to exceed the amount of deficit decrease may only be offset by legislation to help pay for the transition costs to a fully funded Social Security system that includes individually owned accounts that are invested in real assets. Directs the President to include a special direct spending message in the budget if the information submitted indicates that: (1) actual outlays for direct spending in the prior fiscal year exceeded the applicable spending target; or (2) outlays for the current or future budget years are projected to exceed targets. Requires such message to include: (1) an analysis of the variance in direct spending over the direct spending targets; (2) recommendations for eliminating overages, if any, in the prior, current, or future budget years; and (3) the text of a special direct spending resolution implementing such recommendations through reconciliation directives instructing the appropriate committees to recommend changes in laws within their jurisdictions. Provides a point of order against consideration of any concurrent budget resolution unless it fully eliminates the entirety of any overage contained in the President's message. Makes special message and point of order procedures inapplicable for any fiscal year in which the overage is less than one-half of one percent of the direct spending target for that year. Applies this Act to direct spending targets and revenues for FY 1998 through 2002.
Bill· HRH.R. 2827 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1997
Taxpayer Right-To-Know Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Secretary of the Treasury, at the request of a taxpayer, to send the taxpayer an itemized receipt showing a proportionate allocation of the taxpayer's payments among the major expenditure categories.
Bill· HRH.R. 2819 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the credit for increasing research activities. Increases the alternative incremental credit rates.
Bill· SS. 1366 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) eliminate the current ten percent floor for deductible disaster losses; and (2) define the term "federally declared disaster loss."
Bill· HRH.R. 2804 (105th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1997
Health Care Access Improvement Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a limited tax credit to qualified primary health services providers who establish practices in health professional shortage areas.